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- South Carolina residents face deadline to get storm debris out to the curb after Hurricane Helene
- SCDOT to pick up Hurricane Helene debris for a final day in South Carolina
- Hurricane Helene destroyed this county's only hospital. Now, an urgent care facility is caring for the community.
Mason County wildfire burning an estimated 4,000 acres
Crews are responding to the fire, which is 30% contained as of just before 2 p.m. Friday.
TEXAS, USA — Crews are currently working to put out a Central Texas wildfire spanning across an estimated 4,000 acres.
The Texas A&M Forest Service said Friday morning that the North Art Complex Fire was burning approximately 3,000 acres in Mason County, roughly 118 miles away from the Austin area. As of 10:20 a.m., the fire was only 10% contained.
In an update just before 2 p.m., the forest service said the fire had increased to an estimated 4,000 acres and was 30% contained.
Officials say the North Art Complex Fire is actually the result of multiple smaller fires that were started by lightning. The fires were grouped into a “complex” fire because of their proximity to each other.
Forest Service officials said initially, the fire was very active and some structures were threatened. However, as of 10:20 a.m., no structures had been lost.
In the 2 p.m. update, the forest service said aircraft and ground crews continue to work to suppress the fire and more crews are on their way to help.
At around 9 a.m., Mason County Texas AgriLife Extension posted a list of resources for ranchers and farmers impacted by the fire.
Pine Dump Fire in Bastrop County
A second, smaller fire is also burning across 10 acres in Bastrop County Friday morning. The Pine Dump Fire is 60% contained. The cause of that fire is unknown.